AT&T announced it is contributing $1,000 to the general scholarship fund of Haywood Community College to support veterans seeking to expand or continue their education.

“Contributions like this make a tremendous difference for our students and their families,” said HCC President Dr. Barbara Parker. “That is particularly true for students who are working full-time jobs, or who are re-training to re-enter the workforce. For many of our students, the opportunity to receive a scholarship is vital for their being able to continue their education.”

Beverly Elliott, assistant to U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows for veteran affairs said she was especially pleased that scholarships funds were being made available to veterans.

“These men and women have given so much of themselves to serve our country,” she said. “We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their service and I am pleased that the community is supporting them as they seek to expand their education.”

Believing that education is essential to personal and national economic success, AT&T has a tradition of supporting education. For example, in 2009 the company launched AT&T Aspire, an aggressive national initiative to tackle high school success and college and career readiness.

In addition, supporting American military personnel has long been part of AT&T’s corporate heritage.

“For more than 85 years, we’ve been dedicated to supporting active military personnel, their families and veterans through charitable contributions, event and program sponsorships, to hiring military veterans and to maintaining policies that support reservists when they are called to active duty,” said LaVoy Spooner, regional director for external affairs. “We are pleased to be able to provide these scholarship funds as a token of our esteem for those who have worn the country’s uniform.”

AT&T and 11 other companies are participating in the 100,000 Jobs Mission, the JP Morgan Chase initiative to hire 100,000 veterans and transitioning military service members by the end of 2020. The company has been named to the Top 100 Military Friendly Employers List by G.I. Jobs for eight years. To find out more about AT&T’s military programs, visit www.att.com/troopsupport.

HCC offers more than 50 programs of study with unique programs such as fish and wildlife technology, forest management, and professional crafts programs of clay, fiber, jewelry and wood.